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The company was a subsidiary of Phoenix Oil and Transport Company. It was registered in 1924 as City Petroleum Finance Company Limited. It became Phoenix Oil Products Limited in 1926 when it took over from Phoenix Oil and Transport Company Limited the following marketing organisations in Europe:

• Everth A.G. (registered in Austria);
• Astra Dionicarsko Drustvo (registered in Yugoslavia);
• Mineraloelwerke Bayern GmbH (of Regensburg, Germany);
• Runo Oel A.G. (of Munich); and

• Deco S.A. (of Belgium).

  Thus Phoenix Oil Products Limited came to manage all of Phoenix Oil and Transport's marketing organisations outside Roumania.

  During the German occupation, 1941-45, these organisations were all in enemy hands.

  Runo-Everth Treibstoff und Oel A.G. had been formed in 1938 as the result of a merger of Phoenix interests in Germany and Austria, but was forced to divide again after the war for political reasons. In 1949 these German and Austrian interests were sold to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Limited (later British Petroleum). In 1946 Astra was taken into Yugoslav state ownership. In 1950 Phoenix Oil Products Limited went into voluntary liquidation.

The Plywood Chest Association was formed in 1932 by a group of tea chest manufacturers and distributors to establish a quota selling scheme and for synchronisation of distribution. All meetings of the six members (Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, ACME Tea Chest Company Limited, Bobbins Limited (previously British plywood importers), Lea Elliott (London) Limited, Luralda Limited and Venesta Limited) were held at Harrisons and Crosfield Limited's offices. A branch of the Association, the Ceylon Plywood Chest Association, held its meetings at the offices of Harrisons and Crosfield Limited's Colombo branch.

The accounts date back to 1927 as the quota granted to each of the sellers was based on their respective shipments from Europe during the previous five years. Each seller was therefore required to submit figures of chest shipped 1927-32.

The Ralli family, originally from the Greek island of Chios, were involved from the 18th century in the mercantile trade between the Levant and Europe with bases in several European and Mediterranean ports. In the early nineteenth century, two brothers, John Stephen Ralli and Eustratio Stephen Ralli, established an arm of the merchant business in London. "Eustratio Ralli and Company, merchants" appears in London directories at various addresses, chiefly 4 Billiter Square, 1819-27, together with "Ralli and Petrocochino, Turkey merchants, 5 Union Court, Broad Street", 1820-1; "PG Ralli and Company, merchants", also at 5 Union Court, 1821-3; and "Ralli Brothers, merchants", again at 5 Union Court, 1823-6, but from 1826 chiefly at 25 Finsbury Circus, where the firm then remained for nearly 150 years, to 1961.

Three further brothers were based abroad, Augustus in Marseilles, Thomas in Constantinople and also Pandira Stephen, who in 1826 came to work in London, shortly before John Stephen left London to take up business in Odessa in 1827. The five brothers worked in partnership, trading with Europe and particularly in the Mediterranean. The records refer to various countries, including Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Persia, Russia and Turkey, and also to the Baltic, and to a wide variety of commodities, including grain, silk and wool.

The company also traded in cotton piece goods, and a Manchester branch was opened in 1827, a Calcutta branch in 1851, and a Bombay branch ten years later. The firm remained a family partnership until 1931, when it became a private limited company, Ralli Brothers Limited. In the meantime, it had expanded its operations into a number of other countries, but little of this is reflected in the surviving archives, which date mostly from before 1860. Ralli Brothers Limited became a public company in 1941, and in 1959 was taken over by General Guarantee Corporation Limited. It subsequently became part of the Bowater Group.

Richard Ellis and Son were surveyors and estate agents of Fenchurch Street.

Birmingham Mutual Fire and General Insurance Association is the former name of Central Insurance Company (see CLC/B/192-10). Meetings were held at the company's offices at 12/13 Nicholas Lane until March 1907; thereafter at 1 Cornhill.

This company was established in 1854 as the Law Union Fire and Life Insurance Company. In 1892 it acquired the Crown Life Assurance Company and changed its name to the Law Union and Crown Fire and Life Insurance Company. In 1898 the Company's name was changed to the Law Union and Crown Insurance Company. In 1909 it acquired, and amalgamated with, the Rock Life Assurance Company and was renamed as the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company Limited.

Its head offices were at 45 Pall Mall, 1854-6; 126 Chancery Lane, 1857-1912; and 7 Chancery Lane ("Old Serjeants Inn"), from 1912. In 1919 the Company was acquired by, and allied with, the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company, which in 1961 was acquired by, and allied with, the Royal Insurance Company Limited.

This company was established in 1861 as the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company. In 1919 it acquired the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company Limited. In 1920 its name was changed to the London and Lancashire Insurance Company Limited. In 1961 it was acquired by, and allied with, the Royal Insurance Company Limited.

The London and Lancashire had joint head offices in London and Liverpool during some periods, but its chief administration offices were 79 Lombard Street, 1861-2; 73 King William Street, 1862-5; 158 Leadenhall Street, 1865-7; Exchange Buildings, Liverpool, 1867-9; 11 Dale Street, Liverpool, 1869-89; 45 Dale Street, Liverpool, 1889-1919; and 7 Chancery Lane, from 1919.

This company was established in 1920 for all insurance business except life insurance. In 1927 the Sun Insurance Office took over underwriting and management of the company. Planet Assurance Company Limited became a subsidiary of Sun Alliance in 1968.

From 1920 until at least 1925, Planet Assurance Company Limited had a registered office at 118 Fenchurch Street. From ca. 1928 it shared premises with the Sun Insurance Office and traded from the following offices: 63 Threadneedle Street, 1928-65; 45 Cornhill, 1928-40 and 1949-ca. 1957; 3 Lime Street, 1929-38; 37 Lime Street, 1939-40 and 1952-c 1971; Lloyds Building, Lime Street, 1940-51 and 183 Rushey Green (a branch office of Sun Life Assurance), 1965-c 1969.

The Company was incorporated by royal charter in October 1729 and was initially known as the "Governor and Company for working mines, minerals and metals in that part of Great Britain called Scotland". The court meetings of the Company, many of whose directors were also managers of the Sun Fire Office, were held at the latter's premises in Bank Buildings, Cornhill. Indeed, evidence from the 1730s shows the use of the Company's stock as a basis for the Sun acquiring short term loans. The Company was wound up in 1861 and the capital returned to its shareholders.

This company was established in 1834 as the York and North of England Fire and Life Insurance Company; it was renamed in 1838 at which time it had offices in London at 82 King William Street.

In 1842, at which date it was styled as York and London British and Foreign Assurance Office, it transferred its fire business to Imperial Fire Insurance Company. In 1844 its life business was merged with Standard Life Assurance Company.

Imperial Fire was taken over by Alliance Assurance Company which merged with Sun Insurance in 1959.

In 1708 Charles Povey founded the Exchange House Fire Office. In the next year, a Company of London Insurers was formed, consisting of 24 members. In 1710 Povey transferred his right in the Exchange House, also known as the Sun Fire Office, to the Company of London Insurers. The business of the Sun Fire Office was henceforth conducted in Causey's Coffee House near St Paul's Cathedral. In March 1711 it moved to a house in Sweeting's Rents. The Company was governed by two bodies: the General Court which was a meeting of all the managers, and the Committee of Management (consisting of 7 members) which met weekly.

A branch office, known as the Charing Cross office (or Westminster House), was opened in Craig's Court in 1726. The office was moved to 60 and 61 Charing Cross in 1866.

Business in Germany was established during the first half of the 19th century, and during the second half of the century the Sun Insurance Office began to operate in rest of Europe, the Near East, the Far East, the USA, Canada, South America, Australasia, China and Africa.

The Accident Department and the Marine Department were established in 1907 and 1921 respectively.

The name of the company was changed to the Sun Insurance Office in 1891. It became a public limited liability company in 1926. In 1959 it merged with Alliance to form Sun Alliance Insurance Limited, and in 1996 Sun Alliance merged with Royal Insurance to form the Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Group.

The Sun Life Assurance Society was established in 1810 to take over the life insurance business of the Sun Fire Office. The membership of each company's board of managers was identical. Sun Life was based in Bank Buildings, then at Threadneedle Street, and later at Cheapside. The collection includes very few records of Sun Life Assurance Society.

The Sun Insurance Office archive includes records relating to the Sun Indemnity Company of New York. In 1822 the Sun Fire Office took over the Watertown Insurance Company and a US manager was appointed. By the end of 1886 the company was represented in 20 states. The following year the head office of the US branch was moved to New York. The Sun Insurance Office floated the Sun Indemnity Company of New York and the Patriotic Insurance Company of America in 1922. In 1929 the Sun Underwriters Insurance Company of New York was formed. In 1955 these companies were reorganized into two firms: the Sun branch, and the Sun Insurance Company of New York (incorporating Sun Indemnity, Patriotic, and Sun Underwriters).

The Sun Insurance Office had a number of UK subsidiary companies, including: Bath Sun Fire Office (from 1838, see CLC/B/192-06); Patriotic Assurance Company of Dublin (from 1906, see CLC/B/192-30); Alliance Assurance Company (from 1959, see CLC/B/192-02); London Assurance (from 1965, see CLC/B/192-26); and Planet Assurance Company (from 1968, see CLC/B/192-32).

The company was based at Causey's Coffee House in St Paul's Church Yard (1710-11), Sweeting's Rents (1711-27), Threadneedle Street (1727-63), Bank Buildings in Cornhill (1763-1843), and Threadneedle Street (1843-).

The firm of George G Sandeman, Sons and Company Limited, wine shippers and cotton merchants, was established in London in 1790 by George Sandeman (1765-1841). From the beginning he specialised in wines from the Iberian Peninsula, notably port and sherry. At first Sandeman ran the business from Tom's Coffee House in Birchin Lane, later renting an office at 24 Old Jewry. In 1805 he took a lease of 20 St Swithin's Lane for use as offices and wine vaults. This was to remain the firm's headquarters until 1969 when it moved to 37 Albert Embankment. In 1984, the firm moved to 17 Dacre Street.

George Sandeman was early in partnership with his elder brother who ran the business in Scotland. This partnership had dissolved by 1798, and after 1800 George Sandeman took a succession of partners from outside the family. Between 1800 and 1856, the firm was variously styled as Sandeman Robinson and Company, George Sandeman and Company, George Sandeman Gooden and Company, George Sandeman Gooden and Forster Limited, and Sandeman Forster and Company. The business expanded to include insurance and the export of British linen and cotton goods to the West Indies, Central America and Mexico.

George Sandeman was succeeded on his death in 1841 by his nephew, George Glas Sandeman, from whom all subseqent heads of the company descended. The firm became a private limited company in 1902, under the style of George Sandeman Sons and Company Limited. It became a public company in 1952.

This firm of stockbrokers had its origin in the partnership established in 1827 between James Sheppard (1787-1855) and Charles Folger Starbuck (d 1841). The successors to this partnership subsequently merged with Scott and Company (1888), Price and Pott (1906), Harris and Company (1920) and Chase, Henderson and Tennant (1967).

The firm has traded under the following names:

• Sheppard and Starbuck, 1827-1846;
• Sheppard and Son, 1846-1853;
• Sheppard and Sons, 1853-1860;
• Sheppard, Pelly and Allcard, 1860-1888;
• Sheppards, Pellys, Scott and Company, 1888-1905;
• Sheppards, Pellys and Company, 1905-1906;
• Sheppards, Pelly, Price and Pott, 1906-1920;
• Sheppards and Company, 1920-1967;

• Sheppards and Chase, 1967-

  The firm has traded at the following addresses: 3 Spread Eagle Court, Finch Lane, 1827-49; 28 Threadneedle Street, 1849-1888; 57 Old Broad Street, 1888-1920; Gresham House, Old Broad Street, 1920-1964; Clement House, Gresham Street, 1964.

  Also deposited with the records of Sheppards and Chase and its predecessors were the records of several other stockbroking firms: Price and Pott; Scott, Corthorn and Scott; Cannon, Pelly and Allcard; George Davidge, and John H. Davidge. Some of these firms later merged with Sheppards and Chase; some had one or more of the partner(s) later join it; and some are of doubtful or unknown association.

  The partnership of Hall Rokeby Price and Henry Pott was established in about 1852. Price and Pott merged with Sheppards, Pellys and Company in 1906. The firm had premises at 7 Pope's Head Alley (c 1852-5); 3 Abchurch Lane (c 1855-65); 1 Cowper's Court, Cornhill (c 1865-1903) and 2 White Lion Court, Cornhill (from 1903).

  The firm of Scott, Corthorn and Scott appears in trade directories from around 1831. It had premises at 26 Change Alley (to c 1841); 16 Throgmorton Street (from c 1846) and 3 Drapers' Gardens (from 1883). W A W Scott, formerly of Scott, Corthorn and Scott, was the founder of Scott and Co, which merged with Sheppard, Pelly and Allcard in 1888.

  The partnership of Stephen Cannon, Percy Leonard Pelly and Edward Allcard was formed in 1858 with premises at 26 Tokenhouse Yard. Pelly and Allcard became partners in Sheppards and Sons in 1860.

  George Davidge and John H. Davidge were stockbrokers of 13 Finch Lane; their connection with Sheppards and Chase is unknown.

The firm appears to have commenced in the late 18th or early 19th century, for there are references in a directory of 1811 to "Sparks and Sons, distillers, 134 St John Street", and in a directory of 1818 to "Sparkes and Evans, wholesale druggists, 14 St Peter's Hill". From 1823 to 1831 the firm is listed as "Thomas Sparks and Son, 134 St John St.", being described variously as "merchants" (1823-4), "druggists" (1826) and "distillers' chemists" (1831). From 1836 to 1858 the firm is listed as "Sparks and Company, distillers' chemists", at 134 St John Street, and from 1860 to 1948 as "Sparks, White and Company, distillers' chemists", or "wholesale druggists and distillers' chemists", at various addresses: 134 St John Street (1860-7), 62 St John Street (to 1909), and Albion Mills, East Tenter Street, E1 (1911-48). The firm became a limited liability company, Sparks, White and Company Limited, around 1907, and disappears from the directories after 1948, when it was acquired by another druggists, Brome and Schimmer.

The African Banking Corporation was established in 1890 as a British limited company, based in London, to provide banking services in British South Africa. It took over much of the staff, premises and business of the former Cape of Good Hope Bank. During 1891 and 1892 the Corporation absorbed three local banks, the Western Province Bank, the Kaffrarian Colonial Bank and the Worcester Commercial Bank. The Corporation itself was taken over in 1921 by the Standard Bank of South Africa.

The offices of the Corporation were at 43-46 Threadneedle Street, 1891-1905, and 63 London Wall, 1906-20.

The Kerosene Company Limited was formed in 1888 by Wallace Brothers and Lane and MacAndrew (shipping brokers). In 1897 the Anglo-American Oil Company (a subsidy of the Standard Oil Company) took over direction and control of the company.

Leslie and Anderson Limited were an investment dealing company, importing house and exporters of produce. In 1952 Wallace Brothers, through Wyer and Hawke, joined in the operations of Leslie and Anderson Limited which opened up considerable investment opportunities in Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda and Zanzibar.

Wallace Brothers Finance Limited, incorporated in 1964, was an investment dealing company based at 38 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4DE.

Wallace Brothers Developments Limited, incorporated in 1965, dealt in industrial and commercial investments and were based at 38 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4DE.

The bank was established in 1899 as the Anglo-African Bank Limited and changed its name in 1905 to the Bank of Nigeria Limited. It was an overseas bank, operating in Nigeria and the French Ivory Coast. Its head office was in Norfolk Street, Strand. It was taken over by the Bank of British West Africa in 1912.

The bank was established by Royal charter in 1860 as an overseas bank operating in the British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. By a supplemental charter of 1864 it was empowered to operate in addition in other British colonies south of the 22nd degree of latitude. The bank also had the right from early on to issue its own bank notes. The bank was taken over by the Standard Bank of British South Africa in 1875.

The bank's head office was located as follows: 1860-1, 16 Gresham House, Old Broad Street; 1862-75, 10 King William Street.

Wallace Brothers was established in London in 1862, and remained in business until 1989. It maintained its London headquarters at 8 Austin Friars, 1862-1908; 4 Crosby Square, 1909-79; 33/6 Gracechurch Street, 1979-80; 123/7 Cannon Street, 1980-2; 33/6 Gracechurch Street (again), 1982-5; 38 Bishopsgate, 1986-9.

The company has a complex history. Its origins lay in Bombay, India, where the merchant company of Frith and Company was renamed Wallace and Company in 1848. The first partners in Wallace and Company were Lewis Alexander Wallace and Framji Patel. They were joined by George Wallace in 1850, Robert Wallace in 1857, Alexander Falconer Wallace in 1858 and Richard Wallace in 1860.

All the Wallace partners were brothers; there was a sixth brother William who was not a partner in Wallace and Company but traded in Burma in his own name from ca. 1856. Wallace and Company was reconstituted under the same name in 1862, and opened a branch in Karachi in 1883. In its early years the company acted as shipping agents and exporters and importers of a variety of goods. It remained in existence until the second half of the 20th century, but by 1966 it had become inactive.

William Wallace's business in Burma was bought out in 1863 when the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited was founded. Originally called the Burmah Trading Company Limited, its name was changed shortly after its foundation. From 1863 until the 1950s the senior resident partner of Wallace and Company was its chairman, and Wallace and Company largely directed its affairs. Its head office was in Bombay, but its initial operations were in Burma and branch offices were opened in Rangoon and Moulmein in the 1860s or 1870s.

It expanded its operations into Siam (Thailand) in 1884, Java in 1905-6, South India in 1913, North Borneo in the late 1940s and East Africa in 1955. Its trading interests (some operated directly, others through subsidiary or associated companies) were in teak (and later other timbers too), and in other commodities including rubber (from ca.1907), tea and coffee (from the 1930s) and tapioca (from 1954). The timber trade declined in the mid 20th century and by the late 20th century the company's business was mainly in manufacturing and Indian tea plantations.

All the business activities of Wallace and Company other than the supervision of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited were transferred in 1886 to the newly founded Bombay Company Limited, in which the Wallace family also held a major interest. The main business of this company was the export of raw cotton and the import and sale of manufactured textiles from Lancashire. Its head office was in Bombay but it also took over the former Wallace and Company branch in Karachi. Further branches were opened in Delhi in 1893, Calcutta in 1903 and Madras in 1906. Bombay Company Limited ceased trading in 1969.

Each of these companies had close connections with London. In 1862 the London house of Frith, Sands and Company, which worked closely with Wallace and Company of Bombay, went into voluntary liquidation and was succeeded by Wallace Brothers, a partnership established on 31 December 1862. The first partners were George and Lewis Alexander Wallace. In 1911 the partnership was replaced by a private limited company and the London business became known as Wallace Brothers and Company Limited.

For tax purposes a new company, Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited, was formed in 1954. Wallace Brothers and Company Limited then became its wholly owned subsidiary. In May 1970 Wallace Brothers and Company Limited was renamed Wallace Brothers Trading and Industrial Limited.

Following the renaming of the "original" Wallace Brothers and Company Limited, a new company was incorporated on 24 June 1970, also with the name Wallace Brothers and Company Limited. The intention was that this new company should take over the banking activities of the Wallace Brothers group, but the company remained within the group for only two years. It was sold to Drakes Limited in November 1972.

In March 1972 Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited acquired E. D. Sassoon Banking Company Limited which then changed its name to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited and took over the banking operations of the short-lived Wallace Brothers and Company Limited. Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited was renamed Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in 1974 and Wallace Brothers (London) Limited in 1981.

Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and its UK subsidiaries were taken over by Standard Bank Limited (later Standard Chartered Bank Limited) in 1977 and were wound up over the following twelve years. Wallace Brothers Trading and Industrial Limited was sold to OSE Holdings (HK) Limited in 1979. Other companies in the Wallace Brothers group were closed down during the 1980s. Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited was liquidated in 1989.

In their early years Wallace Brothers described themselves as East India merchants, but they rarely dealt in merchandise. Most of the company's business in London was in undertaking commissions, chartering shipping, financing trade and banking operations,Its normal practice was to explore possible areas of new business and acquire concessions, but to assign trading ventures to associate or subsidiary companies when initial findings were favourable. Besides Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited and Bombay Company Limited, many smaller associate and subsidiary companies were established or acquired by the Wallace Brothers group between the late 19th century and ca. 1975.

A major part of Wallace Brothers' business was to act as the London agents of Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Limited, developing markets in the United Kingdon and continental Europe for shipments of timber and providing finance to bring the cargoes from the Far East. A separate Teak Department was established within Wallace Brothers from 1905 to ca. 1955, with responsibility for arranging, overseeing and promoting sales of timber. Wallace Brothers also purchased machinery and equipment in London on Bombay Burmah's behalf. In practice, however, since the Wallace family were the senior partners in Wallace and Company of Bombay, who in turn were managers of Bombay Burmah, Wallace Brothers were more than Bombay Burmah's London agents. Until the 1950s, Wallace Brothers had the power to exercise control over Bombay Burmah's policy and operations. In the late 19th century Bombay Burmah's dividends and staff pay were decided in London, and until c 1960 its senior (European) staff were selected and appointed there.

Arnhold and Company Limited existed in China since 1866, when it was initially known as Arnhold, Karberg and Company. It traded in and became a leading distributor of building materials and engineering equipment. It was reconstituted as a British company after 1919 and Sir Victor Sassoon became the majority shareholder after 1919 after a merger. The company is still trading and is now known as Arnhold Holdings Limited. The initial chairman was Harry Edward Arnhold, a close business associate of Sir Victor Sassoon. The Company's headquarters were in the Arnhold Building at 6 Kiukiang Road, Shanghai, China until its relocation in 1930 to the third floor of Sassoon House, 1 Nanking Road, Shanghai, China. Arnhold and Company Limited flourished until 1949 when, with the change of Government in China, the headquarters relocated to Hong Kong. Maurice Green, who had been associated with the company since the Sassoon takeover, acquired the controlling interest in Arnhold and Company Limited in 1957.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as The Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the City of London. It was established to take advantage of the end of the East India Company's monopoly in 1853.

The bank operated in India and throughout the Far East - in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Siam [Thailand], Burma [Myanmar], Singapore, Malacca, Penang and the Malay States, the Philippines, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Pakistan and East Pakistan. There were also branches in New York [United States of America] and Hamburg [Germany]. Despite its name, the bank never operated in Australia.

Further UK branches opened in Manchester (1937) and Liverpool (1948). The bank gained a second London office and additional branches in India, Pakistan, China and Ceylon with the takeover in 1938 of the P and O Banking Corporation Limited.

The bank's activities in the Far East were severely disrupted by World War Two and nationalist post-war governments in the region. The takeover in 1957 of rival Eastern Bank Limited presented new opportunities. Eastern Bank was active in Chartered Bank's traditional areas of operation, but also had branches in the Middle East - in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Qatar, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. In the same year, Chartered Bank purchased the Ionian Bank's interests in Cyprus.

The bank operated from various City of London addresses: 1852 first two meetings of directors at 8 Austin Friars; November 1852 offices acquired at 21 Moorgate. December 1853-1855 rented offices at South Sea House, Threadneedle Street. 1855 rented offices at 34 Gresham House, Old Broad Street. June 1857-1866 rented offices in the City Bank building at Threadneedle Street. 1867 Former Hatton Court building on Threadneedle Street. In 1909 they moved into newly built premises on the former site of Crosby Hall where they were still at the time of the merger with Standard Bank in 1969 to form Standard Chartered Bank.

The Chartered Bank's operations were governed by the original charter and deed of settlement and the subsequent revisions and renewals of these documents. The bank, which due to the charter operated with a limited liability (a priviledge not open to shareholders of an ordinary joint stock bank until 1858) was was led by a board of directors, elected by the shareholders and themselves shareholders who were based in London and who directed operations via managers, accountants and inspectors who were employed in the overseas branch and agency network.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, known from 1956 as The Chartered Bank, was established by Royal Charter in 1853. It was an overseas exchange bank, based in and controlled from the City of London. It was established to take advantage of the end of the East India Company's monopoly in 1853.

The bank operated in India and throughout the Far East - in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Siam [Thailand], Burma [Myanmar], Singapore, Malacca, Penang and the Malay States, the Philippines, Japan, Java, Sumatra, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], North Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak, Pakistan and East Pakistan. There were also branches in New York [United States of America] and Hamburg [Germany]. Despite its name, the bank never operated in Australia.

Further UK branches opened in Manchester (1937) and Liverpool (1948). The bank gained a second London office and additional branches in India, Pakistan, China and Ceylon with the takeover in 1938 of the P and O Banking Corporation.

The bank's activities in the Far East were severely disrupted by World War Two and nationalist post-war governments in the region. The takeover in 1957 of rival Eastern Bank presented new opportunities. Eastern Bank was active in Chartered Bank's traditional areas of operation, but also had branches in the Middle East - in Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Qatar, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman. In the same year, Chartered Bank purchased the Ionian Bank's interests in Cyprus.

The bank operated from various City of London addresses: 1852 first two meetings of directors at 8 Austin Friars; November 1852 offices acquired at 21 Moorgate. December 1853- 1855 rented offices at South Sea House, Threadneedle Street. 1855 rented offices at 34 Gresham House, Old Broad Street. June 1857-1866 rented offices in the City Bank building at Threadneedle Street. 1867 Former Hatton Court building on Threadneedle Street. In 1909 they moved into newly built premises on the former site of Crosby Hall where they were still at the time of the merger with Chartered Bank in 1969.

For further information on the history of the bank see Sir Compton Mackenzie, Realms of silver: one hundred years of banking in the East (London, 1954) and Geoffrey Jones, British multinational banking 1830-1990 (Oxford, 1993).

The bank's legal department operated from its Head Office in London, and was responsible for dealing with a wide variety of legal cases and issues for the bank. For much of its work, staff in the Legal department would work in tandem with the bank's appointed firm of solicitors. Much cross-over between the work of the Legal, Inspection and Secretary's departments can be noted, as all three would be involved if cases of bankruptcy or liquidation of a bank customer took place, or if a legal action was filed against the bank by a customer.

The first legal assistance the Chartered Bank received was from solicitors Phillips and Sons, 11 Abchurch Lane, City of London, who at the time were solicitors acting primarily for large firms in the City and advised the bank at the time of its first approaches to gain a Royal Charter. By November 1852, Messrs Oliverson, Lavie and Peachey had taken over this role which they held until December 1864, when a decision was made by the bank's Board of Directors to cease the employment of the firm.

In November 1871 the bank appointed Linklaters and Company as their solicitors, who acted on their behalf well into the second-half of the Twentieth Century as Linklaters and Paines.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited was established as a subsidiary of E D Sassoon and Company Limited. It was first incorporated in Hong Kong in 1928 to coordinate the trading interests of the Sassoon family, In March 1930 E D Sassoon and Company Limited's new headquarters were opened at Sassoon House, Shanghai. In order to facilitate the investment of Bombay assets into Shanghai, E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited, was registered in 1930 (however the parent company had been handling private banking functions since 1921). The head office of the new company was in Hong Kong with branches in the City of London and Manchester. The firm continued to invest in property, choosing to purchase large hotels and office blocks. Despite successful production rates, the firm decided to dispose of the mills in Bombay after the Second World War, fearing problems as foreign owners once independence was granted. In May 1949, Shanghai and Hong Kong were under control of communist regimes and seemed unhealthy places for the company's head office so it was transferred to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1950. It is thought that Nassau was chosen because there were no forms of personal or corporation tax in place and Sir Victor Sassoon planned to live there, until his death in 1961.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited invested in a number of companies which it operated as subsidiaries including Far Eastern Nominees Limited and Arnhold and Company Limited.

In 1967 the structure of the company was enlarged to admit new shareholders with the head office later moving to London. Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a cousin of Sir Victor Sassoon, became chairman. The company offered a full range of banking facilities including current and deposit accounts, loans and overdrafts, acceptance credits, export finance, foreign currency exchange and other financial services and advice. Also in 1967, the Nassau office became a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited under the title of E D Sassoon Banking International Limited, Nassau, Bahamas and offered services such as company management by incorporating Bahamian holding or operating companies and trust administration.

In 1972 E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited merged with Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and the name of the company was changed to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited, with registered offices at 4 Crosby Square, City of London. The name was later changed to Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in November 1974, continuing to operate from Crosby Square. E D Sassoon and Company Limited continued to exist as a separate company from 1972 and later became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited in 1978.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited's registered offices were initially Sassoon House, Hong Kong and Gloucester Building, Victoria, Hong Kong (1930-1950). In 1950 the company was incorporated in the Bahamas and the new registered offices became Fenby House, Shirley Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1950-1963) and later 324 Bay Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1963-1969).

Most of the company's operations were controlled by the London branch offices. These were based at Stone House, 140 Bishopsgate, London (1930 - 1934), 85 Gracechurch Street, City of London (1934 - 1955), 37 Upper Brook Street, Westminster (1955-1969) and Winchester House, 100 Old Broad Street, City of London (1969-1972). There were also branches at 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester and Holland House, Hong Kong.

The collection contains a pamphlet on the company's background entitled 'A century of service to finance and trade' (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/001) along with an earlier draft by Major Derek Fitzgerald which contains more detailed historical information about the company (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/002).

Geographical range:
London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited was established as a subsidiary of E D Sassoon and Company Limited. It was first incorporated in Hong Kong in 1928 to coordinate the trading interests of the Sassoon family, In March 1930 E D Sassoon and Company Limited's new headquarters were opened at Sassoon House, Shanghai. In order to facilitate the investment of Bombay assets into Shanghai, E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited, was registered in 1930 (however the parent company had been handling private banking functions since 1921). The head office of the new company was in Hong Kong with branches in the City of London and Manchester. The firm continued to invest in property, choosing to purchase large hotels and office blocks. Despite successful production rates, the firm decided to dispose of the mills in Bombay after the Second World War, fearing problems as foreign owners once independence was granted. In May 1949, Shanghai and Hong Kong were under control of communist regimes and seemed unhealthy places for the company's head office so it was transferred to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1950. It is thought that Nassau was chosen because there were no forms of personal or corporation tax in place and Sir Victor Sassoon planned to live there, until his death in 1961.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited invested in a number of companies which it operated as subsidiaries including Far Eastern Nominees Limited and Arnhold and Company Limited.

In 1967 the structure of the company was enlarged to admit new shareholders with the head office later moving to London. Major Desmond Fitzgerald, a cousin of Sir Victor Sassoon, became chairman. The company offered a full range of banking facilities including current and deposit accounts, loans and overdrafts, acceptance credits, export finance, foreign currency exchange and other financial services and advice. Also in 1967, the Nassau office became a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited under the title of E D Sassoon Banking International Limited, Nassau, Bahamas and offered services such as company management by incorporating Bahamian holding or operating companies and trust administration.

In 1972 E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited merged with Wallace Brothers and Company (Holdings) Limited and the name of the company was changed to Wallace Brothers Sassoon Bank Limited, with registered offices at 4 Crosby Square, City of London. The name was later changed to Wallace Brothers Bank Limited in November 1974, continuing to operate from Crosby Square. E D Sassoon and Company Limited continued to exist as a separate company from 1972 and later became DK Investments (Crosby Square) Limited in 1978.

E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited's registered offices were initially Sassoon House, Hong Kong and Gloucester Building, Victoria, Hong Kong (1930-1950). In 1950 the company was incorporated in the Bahamas and the new registered offices became Fenby House, Shirley Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1950-1963) and later 324 Bay Street, Nassau, Island of New Providence, Bahamas (1963-1969).

Most of the company's operations were controlled by the London branch offices. These were based at Stone House, 140 Bishopsgate, London (1930-1934), 85 Gracechurch Street, City of London (1934-1955), 37 Upper Brook Street, Westminster (1955-1969) and Winchester House, 100 Old Broad Street, City of London (1969-1972). There were also branches at 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester and Holland House, Hong Kong.

The collection contains a pamphlet on the company's background entitled 'A century of service to finance and trade' (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/001) along with an earlier draft by Major Derek Fitzgerald which contains more detailed historical information about the company (CLC/B/207/CH09/01/002).

Geographical range:
London, India and China, Gulf ports, Iraq and Japan.

Far Eastern Nominees (England) Limited, later Far Eastern Nominees (Nassau, Bahamas) Limited, was a wholly owned subsidiary of E D Sassoon Banking Company Limited. It was incorporated on 1936 Oct 3. Registered offices at 85 Gracechurch St, London, EC3 (1936 - 1955) and later 37 Upper Brook Street, London W1 (1955-19--).

The National Bank of Malawi was formed in 1971 when in July of that year the Standard Bank of Malawi and the Barclays Bank of Malawi merged. The two banks holding a 51 per cent share of the new company. Gradually both the Standard Bank and Barclays Bank reduced their holdings until neither had any interest remaining.

Formed in 1937 by Edward de Stein, chairman of the Mercantile Credit Company, whilst not being a subsidary of that company the Mercantile shareholders were given preference for shares. On the 15 July 1937 the prospectus for the company was published in 'The Times' stating the purpose was to finance all classes of hire purchase contracts in the Union of South Africa and adjoining territories as the usual period of credit given by a manufacturer is not sufficent for the requirements of hire-purchase selling. The company gave funds to its clients for a defined period under plans specially constructed for each individual trader. The company was based in Johannesburg and established a wholly owned subsidary in Rhodesia.

In 1952 the Mercantile Credit Company proposed to make an offer to acquire the whole of the ordinary capital of the National Industrial Credit Corporation (NICC) and this became a wholly owned subsidary and in turn gave the Mercantile Credit Company an interest in the Rhodesian subsidary company - this latter being taken over completely in 1954 when it was reabsorbed into the main NICC.

In January 1959 The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited bought a 40% share, at a cost of £500,000 of the NICC. Also in 1959 the Standard Bank and the Mercantile Credit Company created a new company, the National Industrial Credit Corporation (East Africa) with Standard holding 40% shares and the Mercantile the remaining 60%. The National Industrial Credit Corporation (East Africa) remained in joint ownership; in the 1980s Standard's share was acquired by Barclays Bank of Kenya who already held a 51% share due to their acquisition of the Mercantile Credit Corporation in the 1970s.

In August 1968 the Standard Bank purchased the whole of the share capital of the National Industrial Credit Corporation, based in Johannesburg and incorporating the Rhodesia business for £1,856,000.

Registered Offices

1937-1940 820 Maritime House, Loveday Street, Johannesburg

1940-1952 Union Castle Building, Loveday Street, Johannesburg

1952-1965 34 Eloff Street

From 1965 National Industrial Credit House, 12 New Street South, Johannesburg

In 1896 the Bank of British West Africa (later the Bank of West Africa) opened in Ghana. In 1966 the Standard Bank merged with the Bank of West Africa and in September 1970 the Standard Bank Ghana Limited was incorporated, by virtue of government decree, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard Bank. In 1969, the Standard Bank merged with Chartered Bank to become Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited, from 1985 the Standard Chartered Bank PLC which (as at 2013) owns 80% of the Standard Bank Ghana Limited with the remaining 20% being stock trading on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

FOUNDATION AND NAME CHANGES

On 3 June 1857 a prospectus committee met in Port Elizabeth, led by John Paterson, to draft a prospectus for a new bank in the region. This early prospectus was reviewed over the next two years to create a vision of a bank which would be established in Port Elizabeth and which would grow through the acquisition of as many of the existing unitary banks in the region with a head office in London. In 1859 Paterson travelled to London to promote interest in the venture. On 15 October 1862 'The Standard Bank of British South Africa Limited' was incorporated and the first formal meeting of the inaugural board of directors was held on the 18 October 1862. The bank commenced buiness on 20 February 1863 in premises in Port Elizabeth - formerly offices of the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth with which the Standard had merged, the branch under the management of James Tudhope, also formerly of the Commercial Bank. In reflection of the growth of the network of branches and a change in the articles of association to allow the bank to operate outside of British controlled areas in 1881 the name of the bank was changed to 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited'. In 1962 the name was changed to 'The Standard Bank Limited' for operations outside South Africa with 'The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' continuing to run as a wholly owned subsidary in South Africa.

BRANCH EXPANSION

The bank expanded its network with branches across South, East and Central Africa responding to the economic development and growth of the regions. From the first branch in Port Elizabeth the bank expanded quickly across Cape Province and by 4 January 1864 the first branch at Cape Town had opened. Outside of Cape Province the bank expanded into Natal [South Africa] opening the first branch in the region at Durban on 22 June 1863 (Manager James Alexander). The first branch in the Orange Free State opened at Bloemfontein in October 1863 (closed March 1865, reopened 26 March 1900). The Standard Bank was the first to open on the Diamond Fields in Griqua Land West [South Africa] with a branch at Klipdrift [Barkley West] opening on 12 November 1870 and the first on the Gold Fields in Transvaal with a branches at Potchefstroom and Pretoria opening in May 1877 (Manager Hugh Crawford); On 16 January 1890 the bank opened in Bechuanaland [Botswana] with a branch at Mafeking. In Rhodesia the first branch at Salisbury opened on 29 July 1892 (Manager John Boyne) and a branch opening on 4 May 1894 at Bulawayo was the first in the Matebeleland district (Manager Alexander Thain). A branch was opened in Portuguese East Africa [Mozambique] on 20 August 1894 at Delagoa Bay, Lourenco Marques. The first branch in Basutoland [Kingdom of Lesotho] opened in 1901. On 29 April 1901 the bank opened in Nyasaland [Malawi] with a branch at Blantyre (Manager H T Lewis); In Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] the bank opened at Kalomo in March 1906. In January 1911 the first branches in British East Africa [Kenya] were opened at Nairobi and Mombassa by J. J. Toogood, closely followed by further East African expansion with a branch opening on 20 August 1912 by J J Swanson in Uganda at Kampala. In August 1915 the bank opened branches in the former German territories in South West Africa [Namibia] at Luderitzbutch, Swakopmund and Windhoek and the former German East Africa [Tanzania] opening in 1916 at Dar-es -Salaam. Outside Africa agencies were opened at Hamburg in Germany (15 November 1904) and in New York (1 February 1905); a branch in the City of London was opened at London Wall and on 2 December 1918 a further branch was opened in the London West End at Northumberland Avenue.

PREMISES

In the City of London the bank first had premises in Moorgate Street and then at 101 Cannon Street before acquiring permanent premises in 1867 at 10 Clement's Lane.

In Africa the offices and operations were established at Port Elizabeth [South Africa] in 1863; In 1883 on the appointment of Joint General Managers a second administrative head office was opened at Cape Town. On 31 December 1885 the Port Elizabeth headquarters were closed and all administration transferred to Cape Town. In 1952 headquarters moved to Pretoria and in 1959 moved again to Johannesburg.

In Africa daily operations were managed from the administrative head quarters. Robert Stewart (General Manager 1864 - 1875) increased headquarter control over the early network of branches and erradicated the initial system of local boards of directors and local autonomy instead making himself the conduit implementing all executive orders issued from London and ensuing all regions were answerable to the South African General Manager. Decentralisation of Cape authority began in 1926 when the East African Superintendent began reporting direct to London rather than via the Cape and continued in the 1950s when, in 1953 a number of local boards were established. In 1956 the local board for Rhodesia and Nyasaland began to report direct to London. In 1962 the banks operations in South Africa were transferred to a subsidiary Company retaining the name, 'Standard Bank of South Africa Limited' whilst across the rest of Africa the name was changed simply to 'Standard Bank Limited'

ACQUISITIONS

The progressive expansion of the bank had been aided by its acquisitions of a number of local banks. In 1863 the Standard acquired the Commercial Bank of Port Elizabeth, Colesberg Bank, British Kaffrarian Bank and the Beaufort West Bank. In 1864 the Fort Beaufort and Victoria Bank was acquired. The 1870s saw the acquisition of the Albert Bank (1874), the Swellendam Bank (1877), The London and South Africa Bank (1877), the Caledon Agricultural Bank (1878) and the Malmesbury Agricultural and Commerical Bank (1878). In 1890 the Wellington Bank was acquired, in 1920 the African Banking Corporation was acquired and in 1966 the bank merged with the Bank of West Africa. In 1969 the Standard Bank merged with the Chartered Bank to create the Standard Chartered Banking Group Limited.

BRANCHES AND AGENCIES

The bank's early policy on geographical expansion closely followed the Scottish system favoured by Robert Stewart of opening a branch in every town of any importance, even if the initial results were likely to be negligible. It was thought that a far-flung branch system with wide meshes would spread the risks evenly over the whole country. As the bank acquired many of its local rivals and spread quickly across South Africa, by 1864 it had 15 branches open in the area.

The business was incorporated on 20 March 1947 with an objective to assist and participate in schemes for the development of natural resources, business, industry, trade and commerce. The initial share capital was £500,000 divided into 100,000 shares of £5 which were wholly owned by the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited. In 1962 when the parent bank hived off the South African operations the Finance and Development Corporation remained in the ownership of the parent body, known as The Standard Bank, which in turn in 1969 merged with Chartered Bank to create the Standard Chartered Banking Group (later Standard Chartered Bank). In 1973 Standard Chartered with Tozer Kemsley and Millboom (holdings) limited jointly created a new merchant Bank styled Tozer Standard and Chartered Limited with a share capital of £3 million 49% of which was held by Standard Chartered and 51% was held by Tozer, Kemsley and Millboom. This new company absorbed the Standard Bank Finance and Development Corporation.

In 1965 the Standard Bank merged with the Bank of West Africa (formally the Bank of British West Africa). The merged bank was renamed the Standard Bank of West Africa Limited. The Standard Bank expanded operations into Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone and in most of those regions hived off the business into independant Standard Banks. By 1974 the Standard bank of West Africa had only two branches which were situated in Gambia. In 1973 these baranches were transferred to the Standard Bank Gambia Limited.

Thomas Tayler Curwen (1820-1879) went into business as a stock and share broker in around 1849. In 1878 he took his sons, Edward Spedding Curwen (b. 1852) and Thomas Cecil Curwen (b 1854) into partnership with him, and the name of the firm was changed to T T Curwen and Sons. In 1974 the firm was incorporated into William Morris and Company.

The firm was based at 3 Bartholomew Lane (1849-67), 19 Change Alley (1868-1905), 1 Cornhill (1905-33), 80 Cornhill (1933-53), Westminster House, Old Broad Street (1954-64), and 39/41 New Broad Street (1965-74).

On 3 March 1857, notice was given in the London Gazette of the dissolved partnership of Augustus Thorne and George Watson Coutts, who traded as Watson and Company, general merchants of Shanghai.

From 1865 to 1935 Thorne and Company, merchants, is listed in the London trade directories. This company, run by Augustus Thorne, conducted an export business from London to China and Hong Kong in cotton thread, and goods made from cotton, linen, hemp and wool worsted. It became a limited company in around 1892. During the 1870s, Augustus's brother, Joseph, was in partnership with John Andrew Maitland as Thorne Brothers and Company, commission agents and general merchants of Shanghai. A considerable part of the business of Thorne Brothers and Company was as an agency for Thorne and Company.

In 1876 the name of Thorne Brothers and Company was changed to Maitland and Company, and in 1890 the business was transferred to Thorne and Company, which became Thorne and Company Limited. In 1904 Thorne and Company was wound up voluntarily for the purpose of reconstruction and was reincorporated as a private company. In 1923 it became a public company. It was acquired by Haighton Dewhurst Ltd in 1959.

Thorne and Company was based at 4 Cullum Street (1865-7), 16 Mark Lane (1868-[1880]), Dunster House, Mincing Lane ([1880]-1889), 66 Old Broad Street (1890-1919), 62 London Wall (1920-6), Royal London House, Finsbury Square (1927-35). The company then moved to Manchester, and was based in Solway House, Aytoun Street until ca. 1963.

Tribble, Pearson and Company, East India and general merchants, was formed in 1914 on the dissolution of the partnership of Daponte, Tribble and Pearson, formed in 1908 by Christophe Daponte, Herbert Sidney Tribble and Thomas Edward Pearson.

Daponte had started trading as an East India and general merchant at 86 Leadenhall Street in 1897. With the exception of four notifications of trademark registration (in Ms 18225) and a telegraphic code book (Ms 18234) no records for the period before 1914 are known to have survived.

The sequence of partnerships in the company from 1914 to 1929 can be traced in the partnership agreements (in Ms 18214). In 1934 the company was bequeathed to George William Church who carried on the business until his death in 1975, and all the surviving records of the company were deposited by his widow in 1977. Few records created before 29 December 1940 survive as on that date the company's office at 88 Fenchurch Street and most of its contents were destroyed by enemy action (see Ms 18237).

The company specialised in metal goods, chemicals, paints and building materials and traded from the following addresses: 86 Leadenhall Street, 1914-29; 88 Fenchurch Street, 1929-40; 107 Leadenhall Street, 1941-44; 101 Leadenhall Street, 1944-59; 114 Creighton Avenue, N.2., 1959-75.

The origins of Turquand Youngs and Company of 41 Coleman Street, accountants, go back to c 1840. In 1857 three London firms of accountants, namely J E Coleman and Company (established c 1840), Turquand and Edwards (established c 1850) and Youngs and Company (established c 1840), combined to form Coleman, Turquand, Youngs and Company. On the death of J E Coleman in 1869, the firm became known as Turquand Youngs and Company and remained so until the mid-20th century. The firm was a predecessor of Ernst and Young.

John Barnsdale (1800-65) was born into a family of clockmakers from Bale, Norfolk. In 1825 he married Sarah Elizabeth Barnsdale in Shoreditch. In 1862 he moved his clockmaking business to 11 Brunswick Place. On his death in 1865, the business was taken over by his third son, William Barnsdale (1834-1921), who moved it to 16 Brunswick Place in 1868 and then to 18 Brunswick Place in 1871. William Barnsdale was Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1906. He married Sarah Augusta Clinch (1832-99) in 1859. From 1902-22 the firm is listed at J Barnsdale and Son. From 1923, after his father's death, William James Barnsdale (1860-1935) took on the business, moving it to 3 Newman's Court, where it was known as William James Barnsdale and Son. He married Amelia Ricards in 1891 and the family lived in Stamford Hill. William James Barnsdale was Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1919 and 1930. On his death, his son Stanley Barnsdale (1894-1973) took over the business, moving premises to 10 Queen Street from 1953-60.

A deed is any document affecting title, that is, proof of ownership, of the land in question. The land may or may not have buildings upon it. Common types of deed include conveyances, mortgages, bonds, grants of easements, wills and administrations.

Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.

Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

Sir Charles Blackmore was born in 1880. He entered the Imperial Civil Service and was posted to Northern Ireland, becoming the Secretary to the Northern Ireland Cabinet between 1924 and 1939. He was knighted in 1932. In 1967 he died, unmarried, at his home in County Down. Blackmore was a noted collector of antiques, many of which were destroyed when his home was gutted by fire in the 1930s.

Constance Winifred Honey was born in England in 1892. She moved to Australia as a child and trained as a painter at the National Gallery School, Melbourne. In 1911 she returned to London and lived there until her death in 1944.

Obituary of Sir Charles Blackmore: The Times Monday, May 15, 1967; pg. 12; Issue 56941; col E.

Information about C W Honey from http://www.daao.org.au/bio/constance-winifred-honey/ [accessed Sept 2011].

Shortly before his death in 1666, the Reverend Dr William Spurstowe, Vicar of Hackney, built six almshouses near Church Street, Hackney, for six ancient widows from the parish of Hackney. His brother, Henry Spurstowe, completed his work by endowing the almshouses with two closes of pasture called Badbrooke's Meadows containing eight acres of land and one close of pasture called Peckwell or Pickwell Field containing eight acres, all of which (including the almshouses) were copyhold of the manor of Kings Hold. Henry Spurstowe transferred the almshouses and land to trustees by a deed of gift dated 22 August 1667. The deeds of gift was lost some time between 1754 and 1800 and no precise record of the terms of the trust remained.

The charity was augmented in 1773 by a bequest of £200 3% consols from Mr Henry Baker, the interest of which was to be divided equally between the almswomen, supplementing the pensions paid to them from the revenues of Spurstowe's Charity.

In 1819 the almshouses were rebuilt on the same site (later known as nos 1-11 (odd) Sylvester Path). The money for this was raised by selling the brick earth found in Pickwell or Pigwell Field to Richard Dann, the tenant of the charity's estate. At the end of his lease he was required to level and restore the field to agricultural use.

A scheme for the management of the charity was made by a decree of the Court of Chancery in 1835 in the cause "Attorney General v. Watson and others". Fifteen non official trustees were named by the Court and the Rector and churchwardens of the Parish of Hackney were made ex-officio trustees. The scheme laid down the procedures for the future election of trustees and almswomen.

In 1854 the Spurstowe's Charity estate was enfranchised. Agreements with neighbouring landowners, Sir William Middleton and Mr Thomas Wilkinson, in 1853, 1855 and 1863, allowed for the straightening of boundaries and the laying out of new roads and sewers in preparation for building. Most of what became known as the Graham Road Estate was developed in the 1860s and 1870s with houses, shops, and two taverns.

The Charity Commissioners approved a new scheme for the administration of the charity on 24 August 1877. This allowed the surplus income to be applied to the following objects:-
1) Out pensions were to be paid to not more than 20 poor ancient widows or unmarried women resident in the Parish of Hackney.
2) Pensions were granted to the ten poor widows resident in Bishop Wood's Almshouses
3) Convalescent treatment was to be provided for poor deserving inhabitants of Hackney.

Bishop Wood's Almshouses and Chapel, situated in Clapton Road, were founded by the will of Dr Thomas Wood, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, dated 11 November 1690. They were endowed with a rent charge from an estate at Bishop Itchington in Warwickshire, supplemented by half a fee farm rent from an estate at Wanley, near Richmond in Yorkshire, given by Francis Willes in 1842, and by consols bequeathed by Anne Ashpitel in 1870. In 1906 the Charity Commissioners approved a scheme whereby Bishop Wood's Almshouses were to be administered by the Trustees of Dr Spurstowe's Charity. For further information see ACC/1845/14.

Bishop Wood's Almshouses and Chapel still exist. Spurstowe's Almshouses were demolished in 1966 and replaced by new almshouses situated in Navarino Road, Hackney.

Simon Dyot was a landowner in the parish of St Giles in the Fields, Holborn. He died some time before 1692 and his estates were inherited by his son Richard Dyot. The family had a street named after them (now George Street).

Thomas Skip Dyot Bucknell, MP for Hampton Court, inherited the estate. He died in 1815.

William Comyns of Lena Villa, Highgate Rise was a silversmith. He appears to have retired to Bromley, assigning his property to Charles Harling Comyns and Richard Henry Comyns of 41 Beak Street, silversmiths, presumably his sons. Charles and Richard traded as William Comyns and Sons, manufacturing silversmiths, from the Beak Street address.

The first Council of Social Service was founded in Hampstead in 1901 by Thomas Hancock Nunn (1859-1937) who laid the foundations of the London Council of Social Service. In 1910 the Social Welfare Association for London was inaugurated at a meeting at Mansion House: this body had the active support of both the Lord Mayor of London (Sir John Knill) and the chairman of the London County Council (Sir Melvill Beachcroft). The aim of the association was to "secure systematic co-operation between social, charitable and industrial undertakings throughout the metropolis, and the establishment of councils of social welfare in every metropolitan borough to give effect to these objects". In 1919 the association changed its name to the London Council of Social Service (LCSS). From 1979 onwards, the Council has been known as the London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC), and it is still the central co-ordinating body for social work organisations and activities throughout Greater London.

The LCSS was involved in many different aspects of social work and provided a number of key services to small and disparate organisations. Its core activity was the servicing, support and promotion of local Councils of Social Service in the metropolitan boroughs. In its early existence, the organisations belonging to Councils of Social Service (CSS) provided direct services which later became the responsibility of statutory bodies. Social service, however, developed a wider interpretation and now most members of CSS's are either self-help groups formed to alleviate distress caused by a particular disease or handicap, or community groups concerned with the improvement of the environment and the quality of life. The CSS's aim to provide the means for a partnership between the voluntary and the statutory services in existence at any one time. The LCSS was split up into various departments, each having an advisory committee. The Information Department worked to assimilate, assess and process all relevant information from general and specialist sources, making it available in concise form to social workers. From 1923, the LCSS produced a London Supplement, which was circulated with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) monthly bulletin. From 1965 the LCSS had its own independent monthly publication on the social services (see Information Bulletin, ACC/1888/267-283).

The London Churches Group, made up of representatives from all the major denominations, Greek Orthodox, Quaker, Salvation Army and Jewish Communities, provided a channel of the churches' thinking to the LCSS. The Community Development Department played an important role in the activities of the LCSS. In 1937 a committee was formed to consider methods of dealing with social problems on newly designed housing estates and to promote community associations and centres on such estates. In 1945 a full-time officer was appointed to keep in touch with the 120 community associations and advise local authorities on community development work.

Citizens' Advice Bureaux grew out of LCSS activities in London during the Second World War. After meeting the emergency need during wartime, the Citizens' Advice Bureaux Regional Advisory Committee continued its work in conjunction with the LCSS in looking to provide new Bureaux. LCSS confirmed thereafter to provide advice and support to local Bureaux and helped recruit staff.

An LCSS inquiry into facilities for overseas students in Paddington in 1954 formed the start of its concern on the issue of race relations. The Council sought to promote understanding between immigrants and the host community, and to define or alleviate problems of individual groups. The Immigrants Advisory Committee (IAC) was set up in 1959 to be a source of information and advice on immigrant problems. This body later became known as the Committee for Inter Racial Co-operation consisting of representatives of official bodies and minority ethnic groups. It aimed to promote racial harmony and eliminate discriminatory practices. In 1968 the LCSS took over responsibility for the Commonwealth Students' Children Society.

The Family Services Department was started in the early 1950's after the CAB's had reported a rise in the number of requests for help in the matter of domestic economy. Homemaking Advice Groups, now run by local authorities, were set up under the guidance of a team of specialists from the Institute of Housecraft and the Ministry of Education. The department also wished to provide more play facilities for the under fives, encourage domestic safety and locate accommodation for homeless families.

Other activities supported by the LCSS were the Greater London Standing Council of Voluntary Youth Organisations (GLSCVYO), which provided a forum for the discussion of common problems, and the Volunteers Advisory Service, which supports volunteer bureaux in London boroughs and aims to establish standards of practice in placement and training of volunteers. Much of the LCSS activity in the above departments was pioneering. It was held in high regard by local government, government and overseas groups. In addition it helped found schemes of national importance: for example, the Charity Christmas Card Council was formed after the LCSS information officer organised the first display of Christmas cards for good causes in 1958. In response to the expansion of London into Greater London it took on a forward-looking, strategic role through organisations such as the Greater London Arts Association, the Association of London Housing Estates and the Greater London Conference on Old People's Welfare. Many of its schemes were later copied by other CSS's throughout the country.

Along with LCSS material is a considerable quantity of material from the National Council of Social Services (NCSS). The NCSS was founded in 1919 by Thomas Hancock Nunn, organising vice-chairman of the original Social Welfare Association for London. It had close links with the LCSS, their offices being situated near to each other for most of their lives. Some staff worked in both offices: files were often passed from organisation to organisation.

An Act of 1792 established seven 'Public Offices' (later Police offices and Police courts) in the central Metropolitan area. The aim was to establih fixed locations where 'fit and able magistrates' would attend at fixed times to deal with an increasing number of criminal offences.

Offices were opened in St Margaret Westminster, St James Westminster, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Shadwell and Southwark. An office in Bow Street, Covent Garden, originally the home of the local magistrate, had been operating for almost 50 years and was largely the model for the new offices.

In 1800 the Marine Police Office or Thames Police Office, opened by 'private enterprise' in 1798, was incorporated into the statutory system. In 1821 an office was opened in Marylebone, apparently replacing the one in Shadwell.

Each office was assigned three Justices of the Peace. They were to receive a salary of £400 per annum. These were the first stipendiary magistrates. Later they were expected to be highly qualified in the law, indeed, to be experienced barristers. This distinguished them from the local lay justices who after the setting up of Police Offices were largely confined, in the Metropolitan area, to the licensing of innkeepers. In addition each office could appoint up to six constables to be attached to it.

The commonly used term of 'Police Court' was found to be misleading. The word 'police' gave the impression that the Metropolitan Police controlled and administered the courts. This was never the case, the word 'police' was being used in its original meaning of 'pertaining to civil administration', 'regulating', etc.

In April 1965 (following the Administration of Justice Act 1964) the London Police Courts with their stipendiary magistrates were integrated with the lay magistrates to form the modern Inner London Magistrates' Courts.

The police courts dealt with a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.

Offences beyond the powers of the Court would normally be passed to the Sessions of the Peace or Gaol Delivery Sessions in the Old Bailey (from 1835 called the Central Criminal Court). From the late 19th century such cases would be the subject of preliminary hearings or committal proceedings in the magistrates' courts.

Outside the London Police Court Area but within the administrative county of Middlesex lay justices continued to deal with both criminal offences and administrative matters such as the licensing of innkeepers.

The exact area covered by a Court at any particular time can be found in the Kelly's Post Office London Directories, available on microfilm at LMA. The entries are based on the original Orders-in-Council establishing police court districts. A map showing police court districts is kept in the Information Area of LMA with other reference maps. Please ask a member of staff for assistance.

The auctioneers were Goddand and Smith and the auction was held 14-17 July 1964 at the Piccadilly Hotel.

The Parliamentary constituency of Ealing existed from 1885 to 1945. After this date the area was divided into smaller constituencies, Ealing East and Ealing West (both abolished 1950), Ealing South (1950-1974) and Ealing North (1950-1997).

The London Grosvenor Building Society was established in 1878 and latterly had offices at 5 Old Brompton Road, London SW7. It was taken over by the Woolwich Building Society.

Between 1950 and 1983 the society took over a number of other building societies based in the London area, including the Middlesex Building Society and the Metropole Building Society.

Etchingham Park School, Finchley, was constructed in 1903.